Ask a literary agent your question about how to get a publishing agent here. You’ll also find answers to questions other authors have posted. This article is part of our free 15-Part Guide About How to Get a Book Agent. It was created by, and is curated by, a former literary agent who’s now helped hundreds of authors get book agents as an author coach and consultant. See successful authors at How I Got My Literary Agent.
ASK A Literary Agent – FAQ
This Ask a Literary Agent FAQ answers questions about: the definition and role of a book agent, who publishing agents are, when you should query literary agents, how much representation costs, the best way to find book agents looking for authors, submissions to literary agents, how to handle an offer for representation, what happens after you get a book agent, and more.
Author Representative definition and role
When you Should Get An Author Representative
How Much An Author Representative Costs
Finding An Author Representative
- How to find a literary agent?
- How to research book agents?
- Who are the best publishing agents?
- Who are the top 10 book agents?
- How to find publishing agents near me?
- Licensed book agents?
- Established publishing agents?
- New book agents?
- Publishing agents to avoid?
- Book agents seeking submissions?
- How to do a publishing agent search?
- Find a list of book agents?
- Publishing agent database?
- Book of literary agents?
- Where to meet publishing agents?
- Book agent events?
- How to Pitch a Literary Agent at a Conference?
Submitting To An Author Representative
- Literary agent submissions?
- How to contact a publishing agent?
- What to submit to a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent query letter?
- How to write a synopsis for a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent proposal?
- How to submit a book to a literary agent?
- How many publishing agents should you query?
- Best time to submit to book agents?
- How long to hear back from publishing agents?
- Book agent response time full manuscript?
- What happens when a publishing agent requests your full manuscript?
- Book agent not responding?
- How to follow up with a publishing agent?
- Book agent rejection letters?
- Revise and resubmit to a publishing agent?
Representation Offer From a Book Agent
- Getting an offer of representation from a literary agent?
- First meeting with a book agent?
- Questions a book agent will ask?
- Questions to ask a publishing agent?
- Multiple offers from publishing agents?
- Choosing a book agent?
- Literary agent contract?
- Standard book agent contract?
- Publishing agent contract terms?
- Book agent contract red flags?
- Publishing agent lawyer?
What Happens After You Get An Author Representative
Mark has helped hundreds of authors get offers from literary agents and/or traditional publishers. Writers of all Book Genres have used our Literary Agent Advice coaching/consulting to get Top Literary Agents at the Best Literary Agencies on our List of Book Agents.
Ask a Literary Agent
Due to time constraints, we can’t answer questions that have already been answered. Please make your question clear, and concise, since the submission form below is limited to 500 characters.
If you want to remain anonymous, type “Anonymous” in the name field. You’ll receive an email when a reply has been posted (usually within 48 hours). We look forward to helping you get a book agent.
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
Mark,
Thank you very much for your newsletters and I wish you and Ingrid a very happy Thanksgiving! And I must tell you how very much I appreciate your highly informative and detailed FAQ!!!
I’m a semi-retired physician and minister with a published medical book (translated into Spanish and Italian) and many peer-reviewed scientific journal publications. I have several book manuscripts underway and plan to consult with you once they are nearing final form (some months from now), however a question has recently arisen.
I’ve been contacted by a publisher (Covenant Books, Murrells Inlet, SC) offering to review a Christian non-fiction book manuscript that I’m preparing. They indicate a partnership with Ingram Spring Arbor and, therefore, extensive distribution to Christian book dealers, and that they also market books via Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Apple.
On its face, it would seem to make sense to let them review the manuscript first, before seeking a literary agent for this particular manuscript. With a single objective of awareness of the book by the largest audience possible: What are the pitfalls of doing this, and would their marketing, promotion, and distribution be expected to be inferior to what would, on average, be obtainable through a literary agent?
Thank you, Mark.
Anonymous
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your kind message, and I’m happy to help. Re: your question, I can tell you three things. First, if they contacted you out of the blue, and you didn’t contact them first, it’s probably not something you want. Second, if it’s a paid review service, it’s not something you want. Third, if you do that and they publish it, whether it’s good or bad, that could work against you with agents and publishers, who prefer book that haven’t yet been posted about online.
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent, if you haven’t seen or used them yet. Please look carefully/thoroughly at the first items, as you’ll see my more-detailed thoughts re: traditional publishing and the other type:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi.
I am currently finalizing the revision of my debut fantasy novel and intend to send it out to beta-readers early next year. As a Norwegian residing in Norway, I’ve encountered a challenge in finding local publishers willing to consider a manuscript written in English. Therefore, I’m exploring international avenues and seeking representation abroad. I’m curious whether my nationality and residency might pose any concerns for literary agents regarding representation. Your insights on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Hi Kristian,
You can get an agent in the United States, and sometimes being from another country is an advantage, so it’s worth trying.
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent, if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Mark, Your information contains a favorite query letter that I have read. Now I can’t find it. Could you direct me to the right section. Thank you. David Nelson
Hi David,
Not sure which of the following you’re looking for, so I’m sending both. 🙂
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-write-a-literary-agent-query-letter/
https://query-letter.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter/sample-query-letter/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have written 5 original screenplays (TV series) for Apple TV+ (London) and some strange things have happened which I would like to check with an agent. But I don’t have an agent. Could I talk to you about this?
Roberto Quagliano
www.kamlefilm.it
www.451online.it (our italian edition of The New York Review of Books)
Hi Robert,
You might be a fit for the following, but you should share more information about what you’re hoping to accomplish during the time with me, first, so I can be sure I’m a good fit to help, as most of what I do is geared toward helping authors get literary agents for their books.
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com